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Title: DEVELOPMENT OF A RESPIRATION RATE MONITOR FOR SWINE

Author
item Eigenberg, Roger
item Brown-Brandl, Tami
item Nienaber, John

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASAE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2002
Publication Date: 9/20/2002
Citation: EIGENBERG, R.A., BROWN BRANDL, T.M., NIENABER, J.A. DEVELOPMENT OF A RESPIRATION RATE MONITOR FOR SWINE. TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS. 45(5):1599-1603. 2002.

Interpretive Summary: Respiration rate monitors were designed for measures of swine thermal stress. The monitors used a commercially available microphone and a micro- computer. The monitors were designed, built, and tested to give continuous records of breathing rate using different environmental conditions. Tests were conducted in environmentally controlled calorimeters. The monitors were successful in recording increases in the rate of breathing as room temperature increased. This report gives details about the monitors and the measurements.

Technical Abstract: Respiration rates were included as one measure in a study investigating bioenergetic responses of growing-finishing swine to heat challenges. Respiration rate monitors were designed around a commercially available acoustic transducer and a small battery-powered micro-computer. The monitors were designed, fabricated and tested to provide continuous records sas a basis for evaluating stress responses associated with environmental conditions. This report provides details about the monitors and the suitability of obtained records as an indicator of stress, based on measures obtained in calorimeters during constant thermoneutral and hot conditions. Data reduction and analysis are also discussed, based on representative samples of records collected.